EPA Proposes Cleanup Plan for Superfund Site

The Environmental Protection Agency announced that the Zschiegner Refining Co., located in Howell Township, NJ, will have contaminated soil, sediment and groundwater cleaned, according to a plan announced by the U.S. EPA.

EPA will excavate about 2,900 cubic yards of soil and 4,500 cubic yards of sediment and dispose of this material off site. In addition, the EPA will monitor ground water to evaluate the need for future treatment.

"By selecting a cleanup plan for Zschiegner, we are on the way to removing the sources of contamination that threaten local wetlands and pose a long-term risk to the community," said EPA Regional Administrator Jane M. Kenny. "We are eager to begin cleaning up this site."

The Zschiegner Refining Company operated from 1964 to 1992, recovering precious metals from a host of items. In 1992, about 3,000 different chemicals including peroxides, cyanides, caustics and acids were found improperly stored at the facility. EPA subsequently segregated and removed approximately 3,600 gallons of hazardous solutions and 1,400 small containers of hazardous substances from the site.